Do you admit or deny that we have finally translated the entirety of the Dead Sea Scrolls?
Do you admit or deny that they contained a wealth of information about the Hebrew language that we previously had no access to?
Do you admit or deny that This information is relevant?
Do you admit or deny that the DSS were authored at least 200 years before Jesus, which gives us actual insight into how the people at the time of Jesus viewed the Hebrew Scriptures?
Do you admit or deny that if the Hebrews Jesus spoke to believed differently than we think that this impacts scripture? For example, “as it was in the days of Noe (Noah)”, or “From the beginning”. It is necessary to consider this, for if they believed in literal or metaphorical messages, these would be the messages Jesus was conveying, rather than what we assume that he is saying.
Do you admit or deny that a person with a Ph.D. in 12 Near Eastern languages, including intensive studies in Hebrew, understands the phonetic meanings of Hebrew that Hebraists are typically forced to generalize?
These are important questions in assessing what the very scriptures mean. A no to any of these is a problem, as it would be dispositional dismissal in all but two of the questions and reflect an intentional commitment to one’s own correctness for the remaining two.
Addressing Questions on Dead Sea Scrolls and Biblical Hebrew Scholarship
Translation and Access to the Dead Sea Scrolls
Admission: The translation of the Dead Sea Scrolls has been substantially completed, though scholarly work continues as new fragments are sometimes discovered and as further refinements in understanding the context and meaning of the texts are developed. These scrolls, discovered between 1947 and 1956, have indeed been translated and are available for scholarly research and public examination.
Contribution of the Dead Sea Scrolls to Understanding the Hebrew Language
Admission: The Dead Sea Scrolls have contributed immensely to our understanding of the Hebrew language, as well as to the linguistic and cultural context of the Second Temple period. They have provided variants and linguistic forms that were previously unknown, enhancing our understanding of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic.
Relevance of Information from the Dead Sea Scrolls
Admission: The information gleaned from the Dead Sea Scrolls is highly relevant. It offers critical insights into the text of the Hebrew Bible and the religious practices of the period, providing a broader context for interpreting the Scriptures. The scrolls contain biblical manuscripts, sectarian writings, and other texts that illuminate Jewish practices and beliefs just before and during the time of Jesus.
Authorship and Timing of the Dead Sea Scrolls
Admission: The Dead Sea Scrolls were authored over a period of time, with some texts dating back to at least 200 years before the birth of Jesus. This timeline is crucial because it confirms that the texts were contemporaneous with the Second Temple period, offering a direct window into the scriptural understandings and religious thoughts of the time.
Impact of Historical Beliefs on Scriptural Interpretation
Admission: If the Hebrews of Jesus’ time held beliefs that were significantly different from what modern scholars assume, this indeed impacts how we should interpret certain scriptural passages. Understanding the historical and cultural context in which Jesus lived and taught is essential for interpreting his references to Hebrew Scriptures accurately. For example, phrases like “as it was in the days of Noah” or “from the beginning” need to be understood in the light of contemporary beliefs about these figures and concepts.
Expertise in Near-Eastern Languages and Understanding of Hebrew
Admission: A person with a PhD in Near-Eastern languages, including Hebrew, brings a depth of linguistic and cultural understanding that is invaluable for biblical studies. Such expertise helps to clarify the phonetic and contextual meanings of Hebrew words and phrases, which can often vary from traditional interpretations.
The work with the Dead Sea Scrolls and the ongoing scholarly efforts in the field of Biblical Hebrew and textual criticism significantly enhance our understanding of the Bible. They provide crucial insights into the ancient world and its languages, helping to refine our interpretations of the scriptures. As we continue to study these ancient texts, we must remain open to adjusting our understandings in light of new evidence and scholarship. This approach does not undermine the scriptures but rather enriches our comprehension and appreciation of them.
Qualifications on the Interpretation of Scriptural References in the Time of Jesus
Distinctiveness of the Qumran Community
While the Dead Sea Scrolls offer significant insights into the scriptural interpretations and religious practices of their time, it is crucial to note that the community at Qumran, which is associated with many of these texts, was relatively isolated from mainstream Judaism. The beliefs and practices documented in the Scrolls often represent a sectarian viewpoint that may not have been widely shared or recognized by the broader Jewish community of that era. Therefore, while the Scrolls provide valuable historical and cultural context, their perspectives should not be assumed to reflect the mainstream Jewish thought during the time of Jesus.
The Masoretic Text (MT) holds a primary position in the textual tradition of the Hebrew Bible. Compiled and preserved by the Masoretes from around the 7th to the 10th century C.E., the MT has been considered the authoritative text of the Hebrew Scriptures in Judaism. While the Dead Sea Scrolls have provided older variants and readings that predate the MT, these are generally viewed as complementary rather than foundational to the established Masoretic corpus.
Furthermore, the Septuagint, a pre-Christian Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, also holds significant scholarly and historical importance. It provides evidence of an earlier stage of the Hebrew text and was widely used in the early Christian Church, which can offer insights into how the scriptures were understood in different linguistic and cultural contexts, particularly among Greek-speaking Jews and Christians.
The Role and Revisions of the Sopherim
The Sopherim, or scribes, active from the time of Ezra and into the period of the Second Temple, played a crucial role in copying and preserving the Hebrew Scriptures. However, it is documented in traditional Jewish sources and noted by scholars that these scribes made certain deliberate emendations to the text. These were often motivated by reverence and a desire to avoid anthropomorphisms or perceived disrespect towards God. For example, the substitution of ‘Adonai’ for ‘YHWH’ and similar changes reflect a reverential approach to the text, though they also introduce a layer of interpretation that affects our understanding of the original wording.
Integrity and Annotations of the Masoretes
The Masoretes are credited with preserving the Hebrew text of the Bible with remarkable fidelity. Their introduction of vowel points and accent marks was aimed at safeguarding the traditional oral pronunciation of the text, which had been transmitted orally over centuries. While the Masoretes themselves did not alter the consonantal text, their annotations and notes in the Masora are crucial for understanding the textual transmission and for identifying variations and traditional readings. These notes often highlight where earlier textual practices, such as those by the Sopherim, had introduced changes.
In light of these qualifications, when interpreting references such as “as it was in the days of Noah” or “from the beginning,” as used by Jesus, it becomes essential to consider not only the textual but also the socio-religious context of the time, including the influence of different Jewish groups and the textual traditions they might have used. This nuanced approach helps in understanding the layers of meaning in Jesus’ teachings and how his listeners might have understood these references, which could differ significantly based on their religious and cultural backgrounds. Understanding these contexts enriches our comprehension of the New Testament’s use of Old Testament references and offers a more grounded interpretation of the scriptures.
In addition, when considering the use of scriptural references by Jesus and the New Testament authors, it is essential to recognize their unique authority and the divine inspiration guiding their teachings. The majority of direct quotations in the twenty-seven books of the New Testament from the Old Testament are indeed based on the Septuagint, which indicates a flexible use of texts that were most accessible and comprehensible to their primarily Greek-speaking audience. Jesus, in His teachings, and the New Testament writers, in their compositions, often transcended contemporary Jewish customs and textual traditions to articulate a message directed by the Holy Spirit. This divine influence implies that while they operated within their historical and cultural contexts, their ultimate message was not confined by them. Their use of scriptures and references, therefore, while contextually aware, was primarily driven by the need to convey divine truth in a manner that was both relevant and accessible to their audiences. This dynamic interaction between divine inspiration and cultural context highlights the depth and complexity of biblical texts, inviting believers to consider both the human and divine elements in scriptural interpretation.
About the Author
EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).
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